Pencak Silat's Francine Padios delivers first PH gold medal at Vietnam SEA Games

Francine Padios delivered the country's first gold medal at the 31st Southeast Asian Games after ruling the Pencak Silat Women’s Seni (Artistic) Tunggal Single final on Wednesday at the Bac Tu Liem Gymnasium in Vietnam.

The Filipina representative edged Indonesia's Puspa Arum Sari to reign supreme with a score of 9.960 against Arum Sari's 9.945.

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Francine Padios gives Team Philippines its first gold medal at #SEAGames31 with a victory in Pencak Silat Women’s Seni (Artistic) Tunggal Single event.

Mabuhay ang #GalingngAtletangPinoySaHanoi! #IAmSportsPositive#parasainangbayan pic.twitter.com/flj6xxk1kY

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 11, 2022

The Philippines has also secured eight medals courtesy of kickboxing athletes with Renalyn Dacquel being assured of at least a silver medal after she pulled off a 3-0 victory over Thailand's Kanwara Boonpeng in their women’s full contact -48 kg class semifinal on Tuesday night.

The country is hoping to defend its overall title after ruling the 2019 edition with 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals.

—JMB, GMA News